Experts allay fears on low Covid-19 vaccine uptake
Health experts have said there is no reason to worry about the country’s low uptake of Covid-19 vaccine because related deaths and hospitalisations have significantly reduced.
In separate written responses, public health and epidemiology professor Adamson Muula and Society of Medical Doctors president Victor Mithi said trends show that death and hospitalisation rates from the virus have lowered despite the country witnessing increased positivity rate.
The two experts were responding to our questionnaire on a Ministry of Health Covid-19 vaccination progress report, which ranked Ntchisi as having the highest vaccinated population, at 16 percent, while most Southern Region districts have less than five percent of their population vaccinated.
Malawi rolled out the Covid-19 vaccine in 2021 and to date, only an average five percent of the national population has been vaccinated, making it among the lowest on the continent.
Muula said the low vaccine uptake should not be cause for worry, considering that the fatality rate is relatively lower compared to the past two years.
“The country will continue recording numbers on positivity rate but for as long as they are low numbers on hospitalisation and deaths then there is nothing for us to worry,” he said.
He added that promotion of vaccines to adults is difficult, hence, the need to intensify the vaccination drive among vulnerable groups, especially those with underlying medical conditions.
“Perhaps, the best would be to focus on intensive vaccination on people with underlying issues, by way of introducing vaccination in clinics where people with diabetes, hypertension and heart disease or HIV are seen. This will increase the uptake somewhat.”
On his part, Mithi asked for more research on how best the country can vaccinate population in hard-to-reach areas, especially in Southern Region districts that were hit by cyclones.
He said: “The report makes sense. As you can see, the Southern Region has not done well and it’s due to the cyclones. This requires some innovative ways of delivering vaccines in such areas.”
Ministry of Health deputy director of preventive health services Doreen Ali attributed the Ntchisi performance to regular emergency operational centre meetings, follow ups, door-to-door vaccination drives and community involvement and engagement, and other factors.
Malawi failed to meet its target to vaccinate 30 percent of its population by June this year.
The Ministry of Health targets to have 70 percent of the population vaccinated against Covid-19 by June 2023, to reach heard immunity.
